Analysis

• Climate change increases cost of debt for developing countries

  17 July 2018

  The intensification of climate risks and the degree to which they are accurately priced by financial markets are of increasing concern to global economic stability. However, as awareness around those risks has risen over the last years, there is still a long way to go to consistently measure and monitor their costs, which can result in substantial gains or losses for institutional investors. Vincent Huck reports

  

• Prince of Wales says insurers need to step up on sustainability

  11 July 2018

  Events organised by the Prince of Wales can't be publicised, so it was a running joke among the attendees of his finance leaders' summit at St James Palace to ask how one had heard about the event. Surrounded by tapestries, art works, swords and powder guns hanging from the walls, 70 finance leaders were asked to commit to concrete actions to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Vincent Huck got a glimpse through the door.

  

• US commercial real estate: danger in disguise?

  10 July 2018

  US life insurers are big investors in commercial real estate attracted by the yield and diversification benefits they offer. But with strong indicators of the current credit cycle nearing its end, the risks attached to the sector are growing. Is it still safe to go into those waters? By Sarfraz Thind

  

• Illiquid credits tops insurers' asset class diversification plans

  05 July 2018

  The audience of the Insurance Asset Risk EMEA conference answered a series of questions on their main concerns and investment strategies going forward. Vincent Huck reports on the findings

  

• Blackstone targets insurance assets

  03 July 2018

  The insurance industry has no shortage of asset managers jostling to take on assets. So why would someone start from scratch to get into the game? Despite competition, Blackstone believes the opportunities in insurance asset management remain vast. Chris Blunt, head of the group's insurance solutions, explains the company's motivation and strategy. By Sarfraz Thind

  

• Insurers and supervisors clash over equity investments

  28 June 2018

  During a panel discussion at Insurance Europe conference, the insurance industry and the supervisory authorities clashed over the level of equity investments. Industry representatives accused the European Commission and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority of ignoring market realities. Aggelos Andreou reports

  

• How regulatory data can unlock the door to competitive advantage

  26 June 2018

  The data in Solvency II quantitative reporting templates can be used to gain insight and edge, David Walker reports.

  

• Allianz's CIO Carsten Quitter talks technology, ESG and the relationship with Allianz's asset managers.

  21 June 2018

  In a two-part series Allianz's CIO, Carsten Quitter, speaks to Insurance Asset Risk some three years after his predecessor Andres Gruber told of his challenges. In part two, Quitter talks about the latest themes affecting his role as CIO: technology, ESG and the relationship with Allianz's asset managers. By Sarfraz Thind

  

• Argentina woes: if you get all tangled up, just tango on

  19 June 2018

  Soaring interest rates and economic turmoil are causing problems for Argentine insurers, and they must also adapt to new rules preventing them from investing in their favourite financial instrument. Vincent Huck reports

  

• Allianz's CIO talks: "I didn't come here to radically change things."

  15 June 2018

  Like Germany's national football team, Allianz is one of the most well-structured and led companies in the world. Come the final shake-up you know it will be there or thereabouts. In a two-part series Allianz's CIO, Carsten Quitter, speaks to Insurance Asset Risk some three years after his predecessor Andres Gruber told of his challenges. By Sarfraz Thind